Iran's Supreme Leader Issues New Message Thanking Iraq for Support Amid War
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a new message expressing gratitude to the Iraqi people and religious leadership for their steadfast support of Iran "in the face of aggression." The message was reported by Iranian state media on Sunday, although the specific method of conveyance was not disclosed.
Supreme Leader's Public Absence and Context
Khamenei has not been seen in public since the outbreak of the war. His father, the former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in US-Israeli strikes on his compound on 28 February. Since then, Iranian state media have shared written messages from Mojtaba Khamenei to the public through its official channels, maintaining his presence despite his physical absence.
Iranian Military Readiness and Statements
In a related development, the speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, delivered a strongly worded message broadcast by state media on Sunday. He declared that Iranian armed forces are awaiting a potential ground invasion by US troops and are prepared to "set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever." This statement underscores the heightened tensions and military preparedness in the region as US marines arrive in the Middle East.
The situation remains volatile, with Iran continuing to leverage diplomatic messages and military posturing in response to ongoing conflicts. The support from Iraq, as acknowledged by Khamenei, highlights the complex regional alliances at play during this period of intense geopolitical strife.
